Data ages according to TNG "Inheritance "...episode

[Dukhat]

True he did not age In AGT. But was that not a real timeline. Plus Data did allow himself a streak of grey. Perhaps he can control it. But still that one line was a good out for Spiner to come back.

Irregardless, alternate timeline or not, AGT showed that there is a possible outcome where Data didn’t age, and that that possible outcome could still be reality for him in the actual prime universe. And the streak of gray was voluntarily added by him, it wasn’t a natural process of his programming. Yes, it made him ‘look’ older, but it’s no different from him wearing grandpa pants hiked up to his armpits.

 

[NCC-73515]

I don't have to. It's implied in the conversation, and I don't need to be spoon-fed the specifics.

so it is implied, but not established, that he cannot age, but later clarified by the explicit line that he can. preferring to ignore that doesn't change it.

 

[shapeshifter]

Data gets killed twice because Spiner wished it. That's all there is to it.

Sucks but yeah. :-(

/

From "Time's Arrow:"

Data: I have often wondered about my own mortality, as I have seen others around me age. Until now, it has been theoretically possible that I would live an unlimited period of time. And although some might find this attractive, to me it only reinforces the fact that I am... artificial.

LaForge: I never knew how tough this must be for you.

Data: Tough? As in difficult?

LaForge: Knowing that you would outlive all your friends.

Data: I expected to make new friends.

LaForge: True.

Data: And then to outlive them as well.

Text alone doesn't do the scene justice.

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regardless, alternate timeline or not, AGT showed that there is a possible outcome where Data didn’t age,

Agreed. But that is a different TL. Of this Data issue I am reminded of something Spock once told McCoy... Get this through your head, we can't go back!

I don't like it either, Data's death was yet another open wound but unlike the first one which did eventually heal, we've got to accept that Data, as we have known and loved him, is gone.

 

[Kor]

Data ages according to TNG "Inheritance "...episode

Yes, as has been mentioned numerous times in this forum.

Kor

 

[Noname Given]

I think Spiner felt that he could not play a robot in the same way, even with Data aging.

Understandably Brent Spiner never cared for the makeup or the contact lenses, and as you get older, believe me you don't feel as well as you did when you were younger; Thus I don't think he relished the idea of having to put those those contacts in and that make up on for decades to continue to play the part.

You'll notice every time he talks about returning, he pitches returning as a different character such as a very human Soong descendant.

In other words, sure he wants the paycheck, he just doesn't want the early call sheet and the hassle of that makeup and contacts

 

[Dukhat]

so it is implied, but not established, that he cannot age, but later clarified by the explicit line that he can. preferring to ignore that doesn't change it.

And then later clarified/contradicted further by seeing Data twenty years later and he hasn’t aged at all. Yes, I prefer to ignore the line because there’s more evidence against it than for it. You can feel free to think whatever you want about it.

 

[Mytran]

Where was it ever suggested that Data's body aged with time? The line makes it quite clear that the aging is literally skin deep:

CRUSHER: Because she has a feedback processor designed to send out a false bio-signal.
LAFORGE: It's part of her aging programme. Not only does she age in appearance like Data, her vital signs change too.​

Only Julianna ages physically (even if those changes are synthesised)
If Data can grow a beard at will and alter his appearance via a program, surely implementing another program that slows or even reverses the appearance of ageing should be easy!

 

[NCC-73515]

And then later clarified/contradicted further by seeing Data twenty years later and he hasn’t aged at all. Yes, I prefer to ignore the line because there’s more evidence against it than for it. You can feel free to think whatever you want about it.

can =|= must

 

[Dukhat]

Where was it ever suggested that Data's body aged with time? The line makes it quite clear that the aging is literally skin deep:

CRUSHER: Because she has a feedback processor designed to send out a false bio-signal.
LAFORGE: It's part of her aging programme. Not only does she age in appearance like Data, her vital signs change too.​

Only Julianna ages physically (even if those changes are synthesised)
If Data can grow a beard at will and alter his appearance via a program, surely implementing another program that slows or even reverses the appearance of ageing should be easy!

The problem is that Data growing a beard is not ‘aging.’ It’s just him growing a beard. And the one line in “Inheritance” was literally the only time in the history of TNG that it was even hinted that Data aged. Every other instance in TNG gives the indication that he does not.

can =|= must

Not sure what that means, but as I said before, you’re welcome to believe what you want, as will I, based on the evidence presented.

 

[Tosk]

They mean that just because Data can visibly age, it doesn't mean he has to. In other words, just because he doesn't age beyond some grey hair in the the AGT timeline, it doesn't mean he couldn't have if he wished. Perhaps in that timeline, he simply decided one day, "Hmm, I like this look. Think I'll stick with it for now."

 

[NCC-73515]

I haven't died yet. Doesn't mean I can't.

 

[Mytran]

The problem is that Data growing a beard is not ‘aging.’ It’s just him growing a beard.

It was simply an example of Data changing his appearance (which is all the "ageing program" does anyway) and that it is a trivial action for him.

 

[Dukhat]

I haven't died yet. Doesn't mean I can't.

We’re not talking about you. We’re talking about a fictional android.

It was simply an example of Data changing his appearance (which is all the "ageing program" does anyway) and that it is a trivial action for him.

Again, the problem with the line is that the context of it implies that Data ages at a normal human rate just like Tainer did, and like humans, he has no control over that process. While your interpretation of the line (he has a program where he can age if he so wishes, or even reverse that aging or turn it on and off at will) is fine, it’s not what the line implies.

 

[Mytran]

Data ages at a normal human rate just like Tainer did, and like humans, he has no control over that process.

Yet we have seen Data both create programs and delete them at will (see In Theory). I'm not saying that's definitely the case with his ageing program, but the precedent exists.

 

[Dukhat]

Yet we have seen Data both create programs and delete them at will (see In Theory). I'm not saying that's definitely the case with his ageing program, but the precedent exists.

I’m not disagreeing with you. I’m just pointing out that the context of the line about him aging doesn’t really fit with that theory. But it can certainly be an acceptable explanation.

 

[NCC-73515]

We’re not talking about you. We’re talking about a fictional android.

It's called "analogy". Here's another one: Data hasn't removed an eye yet. Doesn't mean he can't.
Now you're gonna say we're not talking about eyes

 

[Dukhat]

No, I’m going to end this conversation with you because we’re just going in pointless circles.

 

[Qonundrum]

....so why the need to kill him off a second time or even show his image as a very badly de-aged Brent Spiner?? They could have improved b4 to hold datas memories and artificially age him. I dont know why they made such a big deal about Spiner aging that he felt he couldnt play Data anymore. It's right there in TNG that he ages.

Why did Spiner keep saying he couldn't play Data forever because his aging would make the character impossible to do credibly?

 

[Dukhat]

Why did Spiner keep saying he couldn't play Data forever because his aging would make the character impossible to do credibly?

Because he and everyone else involved in producing Star Trek at the time completely ignored that one line. Probably, as I keep saying, because everything else contradicts it.

 

[Qonundrum]

Because he and everyone else involved in producing Star Trek at the time completely ignored that one line. Probably, as I keep saying, because everything else contradicts it.

And it'd be easy for them to forget as well; so many lines to memorize in seven years' worth of dialogue...